Oliver Chessum

Oliver Chessum is a tall, athletic English lock whose lineout work and work-rate profile have made him a rising figure in the national second-row picture. Born on 6 September 2000 and standing at 6'7", he combines the physical stature demanded of a modern tight-five forward with the mobility of a player capable of covering the back row. Chessum's game is built around set-piece craft and tireless defensive work. He is a dominant lineout operator, both as a target and an option in defence, and he couples that aerial skill with an active tackling profile and willing carries in the tight channels. That combination has made him a consistent contributor in one of the Premiership's most demanding forward environments at Leicester Tigers. His international breakthrough came during England's 2023 Six Nations Grand Slam campaign, a defining moment in his Test career and an early marker of the trust coaches placed in his set-piece work. He was then an integral part of the England squad that lifted the 2024 Championship, underlining his standing as a core figure in the national engine room. At club level he continues to anchor the Leicester lineout and offer a long, athletic option across the tight-five rotation. Chessum's combination of aerial dominance, work rate and Test-level silverware has established him as one of the most promising second-row forwards in the English game.